Have you ever decided against doing a hike based on the numbers? Maybe it was too long—15 or 20 miles. And you were looking for a more leisurely 5-mile day hike. Or maybe the deal …
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What Not to Pack
14 Items You DON’T Need to Bring on a Trek in the Alps This will not be easy. But to make your trek more fun, you may want to pack light and leave some stuff …
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Stage 18 & 19 – L’Etivaz to Montreux
L’Etivaz to Montreux The final two stages, (Stage 18 and 19) of the Via Alpina pose some logistical challenges for most hikers. The designated route leaves something to be desired, and there are no accommodations …
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Stage 17 – Gstaad to L’Etivaz – Via Alpina 1
Gstaad and L’Etivaz—Worlds apart You couldn’t find two towns in all of Switzerland more different from each other than of Gstaad, our starting point, and L’Etivaz at day’s end. One is German, the other French-speaking. …
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Stage 16 – Lenk to Gstaad – Via Alpina 1
Leaving Lenk and cruising over the Trüttlisbergpass This stage, and the remaining stages, could be more properly classified as “mountain walks” than “alpine hikes.” They’re more relaxing than demanding. More energizing than exhausting. Leaving Lenk …
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Stage 15 – Adelboden to Lenk – Via Alpina 1
Over the Hahnenmoospass On the Via Alpina 1, Stage 15 from Adelboden to Lenk, I breathe deep knowing all the high passes are behind us. The Hohtürli and Sefinenfurgge are fading memories. Gone are the …
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Via Alpina Hiking Passbook: Stamp it up!
Via Alpina Hikers: A New Breed of Stamp Collectors As I’m hiking the Via Alpina, a 230-mile trek through the Swiss Alps, I’ve picked up a new hobby—stamp collecting. No, I’m not collecting postage stamps. …
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Stage 14 – Kandersteg to Adelboden – Via Alpina 1
Stage 14 – Kandersteg to Adelboden – Via Alpina 1 Kandersteg is another one of those Bernese Oberland towns that invites a longer stay. Coming down from the Öeschinensee you feel like you’re arriving in …
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